After all, it’s not just the show that sniff your wine
If you’re not a seasoned sipper, ordering wine can feel like a performance. There are swirling, sniffing, obligatory nods after a small pour, and it’s easy to see if it’s just for the show or if you like wine. However, the first sample is not about taste. It’s a high quality check.
That first pour is your chance to make sure the wine doesn’t get any worse. Sometimes the bottle can become rotten if it is stored improperly or if there is a cork defect. The result is what is called “cork” wine. It may smell like wet cardboard or mold, but it definitely tastes like it’s the winemaker intended. A quick sniff of the wine before taking a sip will allow the bottle to pour completely and capture the problem before saving the palate and night.
So you don’t even need to drink wine, but you’ll be fine. If you know you want to show that you are a wine drinker, then simply give a big swirling sniff, as bad bottles are usually detectable with just the smell. But that flex is only valuable if you know how to smell bad bottles.
Estimated 1% to 7% of the bottles are coked -This explains the meaning below. When scrutinizing a wine for a problem, it is important to know what to look at, taste and smell. To get a full scoop of cork wine and a way to tell a good bottle from a bad bottle, we turned to the experts. Here’s what you need to know.
What is cork wine?
“Corked wine is caused by a compound called trichloroanisol, or TCA, which contaminates cork, bottles, or wine itself during harvest, production, or transport,” he famously says. Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
Cork wines can come from the restaurant’s wine cellar or their own collection.
TCA is often present as a coke fungus, but it can also be found in pesticides, preservatives and cleaning products found in wineries. Even if high quality control standards are strictly implemented, barrels and cardboard boxes can also cause “contamination.”
“Coked wine is not harmful to consumption, but it’s not comfortable to drink and will definitely undermine the experience,” Miliano said.
Despite the temporary nasty and confusion in the dinner service, it’s okay to return something cool. After all, if you’re shelling hard-earned cash to deal with yourself and your loved ones, you don’t want to go to the night, well, sour.
I asked Miliano and Courtney Cheney, Beverage Operations Manager. Ocean Primeexplains whether the wine is corked and how to communicate the appropriate protocol to flag the issue on the sommelier or server. (For wine tips, read the best sommelier tips to find out your budget bottle and see how to properly store all kinds of open wine.)
How to determine if wine is caulked
Cork wine may smell like a musty smell, like wet cardboard or a wet basement.
Usually there are two immediate indicators to detect whether the wine is caulked: aroma and taste. “Cork wine usually smells like wet cardboard, hollows, or a damp basement,” Miliano said. “You’ll notice that when you taste it, the taste will be muted or uncomfortable, and that it lacks the expected fruit and structure.”
Cheney reflects these exact explanations, adding that corked wines “taste a flat flat with a clear astringency in severe cases.”
You might also believe that varieties with a high tannin are easier to caulk than other varieties, but TCA does not discriminate against them. “However, it’s easy to recognize cork stains in uncovered wine due to the stronger aromatics associated with the aging of oak,” said Cheney. “It’s likely (and) will occur with wines with traditional cork.”
read more: We asked wine pros if red wine opened in the fridge lasts longer.
How to send back cork wine
Don’t be embarrassed to send back a cork bottle of wine.
If you come across a cork-shaped bottle, a trained wine expert or bar manager can help you improve your unfortunate situation. “The best approach is the simplest,” Miliano said. “We politely notify our servers and sommeliers. There are no crimes. Most hospitality experts are trained to handle the situation gracefully.”
This includes tasting the wine yourself before replacing the bottle or glass. If you’re not entirely sure, you can also rely on a professional palate for explanations and final confirmation.
“I used to completely caulked the entire case of great Rioja,” Miliano said. Quality verification is part of the process and is an important step in determining whether additional inventory is affected.
“You can also check the corks presented on the server where you open the bottle,” added Cheney. “It smells like a musty smell and is probably caulked.” Of course, if you have any type of pushback, escalate high to the restaurant manager or owner after your meal. This can be done via email to avoid conflict.
read more: 7 amazing recipes that let you add wine
There’s nothing in wine
A restaurant worth salt replaces a cork bottle with a free, good one.
Cheney best concluded the concept of wine caulking. “Cork stains are faults that occur naturally in wine, so most restaurants change bottles without further questions or charging.”
An offensive bite may be bad luck, but don’t forget that it’s probably the worst thing that will happen to you that day. Accept it, say something about it and move on. It’s not anyone’s fault (not even winemakers).